Rehearsal Day - Matthew

April 22, 2013, 10am

"Miss Bennett! It's good that you're here now."

David, my best friend, nudged me on my shoulder.

"What?" I asked him, annoyed.

"Bro she's here."

I looked at where David was looking.

She's wearing sunglasses. And I know why, of course, she cried. And I know that it was because of me. I fucking hate myself.

"So what? Of course, she'll be here."

"You really need to tell me the whole story, bro." David was shaking his head at me.

"That is the whole story. I messed up. As always. She got tired of me, she broke up with me."

"Come on everyone! We will start in 15 minutes. Be sure that you know all your lines by now." I heard Ms. Cooper said, our adviser.

Chloe sits down beside her friends. She removed her sunglasses revealing her puffy eyes.

"What happened to your face Chlo???"

Ellie asked Chloe. Her best friend. I was surprised that she didn't know what happened betweeb us. They always tell each other their secrets so this was surprising.

"Don't overreact, El. It was just my allergies. I'm okay."

She smiled like everything was really okay.

"You sure, Miss Bennett?"

Miss Cooper asked her.

"Yes, ma'am! I'm very sure." she smiled again.

David was still standing beside me.

"You fucking asshole, Matt," he whispered it to me.

I looked at David, "Come on man, she was the one who broke up with me."

"Because you were an asshole."

he shook his head and then David walked away.

-------

"Okay, everyone. Let's do the 6th scene. Miss Bennett, Mr. Anderson, Miss Turner, and Miss Collins, position yourself." yelled Miss Cooper.

I breathed deeply and began to walk towards the small stage with them.

Maybe you're trying to figure out what am I doing here. Well, every year, graduating students here in our school, have a requirement of 1 performance. Either this, dancing, singing or playing instruments. I chose this because I thought this was easier among others. Chloe was ecstatic when I told her I joined here. "Oh, I'm so happy! I know that you will nail it!" I remembered her saying.

The story of the play was set in the '60s. I'm playing as Will. This scene is my second 'accidental' meeting with Barbara, the character of Chloe. She and her 'friends' were having their lunch at a small diner near my house.

"Come on, come on! 6th Scene, Love Stays, ACTION!"

I can do this. I can do this.

I walked to Barbara and said, "Hi, may I know your name, lovely lady? I saw you before and recognized you. I can't seem to shake my thoughts of you and I'm glad that now you're here again." I smiled. Hold that smile, Matt. You can do it.

Barbara and her friends giggled.

"I'm Barbara,"

She smiled and offered her hand.

I took it.

She was fighting herself not to cry. I can see that. A tear fell from her eye.

"You okay?" I asked her quietly.

She nodded looking down.

She turned to Miss Cooper.

"Miss Cooper, I'm sorry. I thought I was 100% okay. My allergies are acting up again. Can we reschedule our practice? I mean, just the scenes that I'm included?"

Miss Cooper nodded.

"Okay, Miss Bennett. It's fine. Go home and rest. I will tell your teachers in your classes later about your allergy. Mr. Anderson! I will excuse you too, please take Ms. Bennett home. Is that okay?"

I looked at Chloe and she was shaking her head to me.

Ellie raised her arm, "I can take her home, Ms. Cooper! May I?"

"No, Miss Collins. You have your scene later. You can't go."

She looked at Chloe.

Chloe nodded and smiled, "It's fine El."

"It's okay, Miss Cooper. Really. I can go home myself." Chloe said.

I reached for her left hand so I can hold it.

"Hey, let me take you home, please?" I told her quietly.

She didn't answer. She didn't even look. She pulled her hand away from me and walked to get her bag and left the room.